MLB's 2012 season has the makings of a classic

With the 2012 MLB season still a few months away, it gives a lot of us ample time sit back and become arm-chair quarterbacks during these winter months. With MLB.com and the MLB Network announcing the Hall of Fame ballot results Monday at 2 PM ET, there are a few other things that will make the regular season and offseason rather entertaining. 

Albert Pujols, the new King of L.A., is the second-highest paid baseball player behind Alex Rodriguez. Now that the Angels are the front-runner for postseason dominance, their continued success begs the question: is Albert Pujols worth that much, and if his numbers dip for a fourth consecutive season, will he still be the golden boy come 2013? 

At $20 million a year, Ryan Howard is one of the highest paid players in baseball (eighth). He is also coming of Achilles surgery and should be ready for an April return.

Howard is also facing a situation where his BA, OBP, SLG and OPS have declined in three consecutive seasons. The Phillies are an aging squad, and no longer have a stranglehold on the NL East. With the resurgence of the Atlanta Braves, Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins, Howard’s contract could be the least of Phillies' worries come playoff time. 

The Miami Marlins sure know how to make an entrance. With a new stadium, new uniforms, Ozzie Guillen at the helm and new players—Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle and Heath Bell—they are a real force in the ultra competitive NL East. A power struggle between the NL East teams is putting it mildly. 

Bobby Valentine is back in the managerial hotseat as the latest manager of the Boston Red Sox. The Sox are coming off a historic collapse to end the 2011 season and they still have a great offense, but their pitching is suspect. Now with Valentine there to provide that spark, to say their season will be anything but eventful would be an understatement.

Ryan Braun's looming suspension is difficult to comprehend. Braun is the most prolific player to date to be suspended by Major League Baseball for the use of a banned substance. According to multiple reports, the banned substance is not steroids or performance enhancers but a positive test as a result from “medicine prescribed for a personal medical condition.”

It does not look like the result will be reversed, so, how does this play in Braun’s favour with the fans, and how much does this hurt his legacy if in fact his career stays on its Hall of Fame pace? 

When next season ends, the next HOF ballot will be surfacing and the list of players making their first appearance with be the stuff of legend; Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mike Piazza and Sammy Sosa. The discussion leading up to the results will be like nothing we have ever seen.

Devon is the founder of The GM’s Perspective

Devon is a former professional baseball player with the River City Rascals & Gateway Grizzlies, and is now an independent scout.